Key case



March 22, 1927. 1,621,795 v c. LORBER KEY CASE Filed April 14,.1926

Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

i I UNITED STAT EI S CHARLES LORBER, F .IIOUISVIL'LE.- KENTUCKY.

KEY CASE.

Application filed April-14, 1926. Serial No. 101,932.

This invention relates to key cases of the type commonly carried in the pocket and usually consisting of a foldable leather case having key holding means attached thereto.

011s important object of the invention is to improve and simplify the general construction of devices of this character.

i i-second important obj ect o'fxtl ie invention is to provide an improved form of such case wherein the commonly used metallic plate to which the key holders proper are secured is eliminated.

A third important object of the invention is to provide, for such a case, novel key attaching means.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure l is a front view of the improved case in its preferred form, the case being open and the key holders with the case.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the case shown in Figure 1 with the attachment holding flap turned up.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front view of a modified form of the device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through a portion of one form of attaching device used herein.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4t showing a second form of attaching device.

Figure 6 is a similar View showing a third form.

Figure 7 is a similar view showing a fourth form.

In the present embodiment of the invention the body of the case is made of some more or less flexible material such as leather or the like and is provided with a back portion 10 and cover flaps 11 foldable over the front of the back portion and adapted to be secured in folded or closed position by an ordinary snap button, the parts of which are indicated at 12.

In the preferred form there is provided at the top center of the body aflap 13 formed integrally with the body and having a series of slots lt spaced transversely of the flap.

This flap is,"-in the finishedarti'cle, secured to the back by stitch lines'15.

In the modified form this fiap'isreplace'd by 'a series-of strips 16 doubled over on the back and secured by stitching 1 7.

In each form there is provided a key hold er carrying member which extends beneath the down turned fl'ap or tags andhasoppesite each slot a hollow ball ii -8 into which ektend's the shank 1910f a key holderx orlhook 20, the shank passing through a respective slot and being provided within the ball with a ball head 21.

These balls may be connected in a variety of ways. For instance, in Figure 4, the balls are connected by bar links 22 having heads 28 within the balls; in Figure 5 bar links 24 are split at the ends and the split portions 25 bent away from each other to form heads; in Figure 6 the bar links 26 are provided with eyes 27 forming heads; and, in Figure 7 a single flexible member 28 headed at the ends extends through the whole series of balls.

Thus in Figures 4, 5 and 6 there is formed a chain, the alternate links of which constitute ball sockets.

If desired the balls at the ends may be flattened to provide a finish for the chain.

The device is, of course, used in the well known manner in which such key cases are commonly used.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a key case, a member doubled on itself and provided with a series of spaced slots at the doubled portion, a flexible chain housed within the doubled portion and having ball sockets spaced lengthwise of the member to lie opposite the slots, and key hooks each having a shank extending through a respective slot and provided with .a ball head engaged in a respective socket.

2. In a key case, a body ofv flexible material having a flap at one end normally folded inwardly on the body, the flap end being provided with a series of slots spaced transversely of the body, a member housed within the flap and extending across said series and provided opposite each slot with a ball socket, and key hooks each having a shank extending through a respective slot and provided with a ball head engaging in a respective socket.

3. In a key case, a body of flexible material having a fiap at one end normally folded inwardly on the body, the flap end being provided with a series of slots spaced transversely of the body, a flexible chain housed within the flap and extending across said series and provided opposite each slot with a ball socket, and key hooks each having a shank extending through a respective slot and provided with a ball head engaging in a respective socket.

4. In a key case, a chain including a series of links each forming a laterally open ball socket to receive the ball head on the shank of a key holder, and headed links connnecting said sockets in spaced relation.

5. In a key case, a chain including a series of links each forming a laterally open ball socket to receive the ball head on the shank of a key holder, a second series of links arranged alternately of the first links and extending through the sides thereof, said second series having heads within the socket links.

6. In a key case, a chain including a series of links each forming a laterally open ball socket to receive the ball head on the shank of a key holder, a second series of links arranged alternately of the first links and ex tending through the sides thereof, said second series having heads within the socket links, said second links being split at the ends and having the portions at the sides of the splits turned away from each other to form said heads.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES LORBER. 

